So Long And Thanks For All The Fish

It’s never easy to say goodbye. Ok, that’s not true, sometimes it’s super easy to say goodbye, in fact, you wished could’ve said goodbye much, much earlier. You’re with someone, they’re annoying you, but it’s impolite to leave, or you feel you should or have to stay. Or when you’re at a party, function, event, etc. and some guests are driving you up a wall. There are times when you’re screaming goodbye in your head, measuring how many steps it would take to get to the door, or wondering if anyone will notice if you were to dive out of the window, full-on Die Hard – hmm, was that what Shakespeare was picturing when he said, ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow, wait to jump out that window till the morrow’? Something like that.

We love to tell stories, we’re natural born storytellers. Over 7 billion of us on the planet, telling our stories. So many stories. While we’re telling those stories, or hearing those stories, we’re not going to agree on everything all the time or be pleased all the time, but could we put all the hate, bullying, vitriol, name-calling, hyperbole, lies, persecution, injustice on the shelf? Maybe we could strive to disagree respectfully. There are many ways to tell stories, from many perspectives.

A long-awaited specialist appointment (now waiting for more, er, stuff and trying new, er, stuff) opened and reopened my eyes. No worries, it’s notfatal, to the best of my knowledge, it just feels like it’s killing me…

1) I need to take a break and focus on my health.

2) I need to write, not just blog posts, but my book, and maybe try to make more money to pay for my dirty habit…to clarify, it’s my chocolate habit, but it can be dirty; dark chocolate especially leaves terrible stains and smears everywhere.

3) It’s with a heavy heart that I write This Is Where I Leave You…actually, I didn’t write that, Jonathan Tropper did and it was delightfully flawed, if a little clever-clever, but I appreciate the exertion. Plots and characters somewhat transparent yet quite engaging. His authentically muddled and intriguingly idiosyncratic style keeps me reading. Hollywood made a valiant attempt to adequately adapt it to the screen with: Tina Fey (SNL, Mean Girls, 30 Rock, Spongebob Squarepants, Simpsons, Sisters, Muppets, etc.), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Zootopia, Juno, Paul, Little House on the Prairie, Knight Rider, etc.),

Adam Driver (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Girls, J. Edgar, Lincoln, The Unusuals, etc. ),Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood, Justified, Catch and Release, Live Free or Die Hard, The Mindy Project, The Office, Hitman, Call of Duty),Dax Shepard (Robot Chicken, Idiocracy, Parenthood,and endless oddSamsungcommercials with wife, Kristen Bell who will always be Veronica Mars to me, also great in Deadwood), Jane Fonda (The Newsroom, Barbarella, On Golden Pond, Sunday in New York, Cat Ballou, Barefoot in the Park, The Butler, Georgia Rule, They Shoot Horses Don’t They, Klute, Coming Home, The China Syndrome, The Morning After, and you may know her from her activism and/or groovy exercise videos).

4) I might need to cut back on TV, way too many shows are just ads in disguise. ie. Ride with Norman Reedus should actually be titled: American Tourism, Ducati, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Indian, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Triumph, and Yamaha Pay For Ride with Norman Reedus. And it’s weird how he wanders around never opening his wallet, it’s like he’s still on The Walking Dead, I guess there’s no need for money during the zombie apocalypse – the Daryl Dixon Discount.

Gorgeous bikes, scenery, people (well, mostly), but obviously one long commercial. Don’t know if I’m now more or less inclined to be sad if Negan chooses Daryl. Just sayin’.

I’ll forgive AMC, after all, they also gave us: Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Talking Dead, Hell On Wheels, Mad Men, Fear The Walking Dead, Turn: Washington’s Spies, The American West, Into The Badlands, and now, Preacher, a gruesomely heartening supernatural tale of good vs evil, or more like good vs itself.

5) I need to find new ways to de-stress. Stress is everywhere these days. Even dogs and cats are under pressure to perform, and not just in endless and often demeaning internet videos, gifs, memes, etc. (see above, but how cute is that?); just look at their food – it has to be high in fiber, promote lean muscle, keep them at a healthy weight, all so they can be adorably frisky and playful, for our amusement. Amusement seems more important now than ever. We need to be constantly amused, entertained, busy. Is it a latent, twisted version of hunting and gathering, we now hunt and gather entertainment?

We even amuse ourselves with foodporn, I mean, food now…

6) I’m crushing on teacup pigs, some call them pocket pigs, or micro pigs, but I worry about their popularity, they could get bought up by someone like Bill Gates and we’ll have to buy endless crappy versions of them – Microsoft pigs.

7) I need to catch up on my reading. Numerous library books await my attention, with due dates, apparently some others have the nerve to want to use my the public library.

Life is all about the journey, not the destination, and sometimes that journey takes you not where you meant to go but where you’re meant to be. Reading takes you anywhere you want to go and while some books may not change the world, they could change your world.

My books to review basket is also overflowing. I almost missed out on a great murder mystery, These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly in the bookflood https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1415718938And I’ve enjoyed indie works – hidden treasures, like the ones previously mentioned here https://yadadarcyyada.com/2016/01/29/always-on-my-mind-blog-party/ and so many more. Luckily I can’t physically see the Netgalley books unless I log on, so I’m pretending I forgot my password (psssh, I know you remember your password). Books have many purposes: entertainment, distraction, learning, companionship, dreaming, but really, like pop culture they’re a way of examining life, a form of philosophy. Long time readers of this blog know I have an ongoing love affair with books, including Open Court’s…and Philosophy series, but there are so many of them, how can I read and review them all? I can’t, but I sure can try. If not on here, then on Goodreads. ie. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1677400824

Aaron Sorkin is a master at presenting all sides of, well, everything, logically, rationally, especially politics. We need more of that. Smart, well-balanced writing. To me, Sorkin is the ultimate optimist, an anti-cynic, after all, who else would keep monologuing, writing epic, inspiring speeches and broadcasting them in the hopes he’s actually reaching people, not just cleverly preaching to the converted.

9) So…Politics…That happened. I feel all Alice Through The Looking Glass, what if it’s all a dream? Maybe I went through a mirror, fell down a rabbit hole, opened a door, magically traveled through a wall to Platform 9 3/4, opened a portal, a Stargate, a paratime machine, a window, a crack? I keep hoping I’m in some alternate reality, some parallel Universe and I’ll wake up. Are we BrainDead (funny show, but making me a tad paranoid of the ants that keep invading my place)? Have aliens taken over politicians? Naah, too obvious. As Alexander Hamilton said:“If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”? Hmmm, how about stand for something with even a hint of logic, intelligence, integrity, or sanity?

Donald Trump, #Brexit, bogus indignation, lies, corruption, murder, abuse, war, poverty, disease, starvation, terrorism (of course, we’ve always got a new foe, it’s important to keep us scared, worried, after all, we buy more that way). Imagine what we could accomplish if we focused on what mattered and would help all people, not just a select few.

It’s too easy to long for a simpler times. Watching Brooklyn(https://yadadarcyyada.com/2016/01/08/stand-by-me/) it seems like life was simpler, less complex, less contentious, and it’s true in many ways. But we can’t live in the past. Can’t go back. Can’t unring bells that have been rung. With technology ruling our lives, we have to find ways to somehow enjoy the benefits of here and now without being consumed and overwhelmed by the here and now.

10) I’ve thought a lot about why the world more closely resembles the last days of Roman Empire and that line Gena Rowlands uses to chide/teach her moviedaughter, Sandra Bullock in the romcom Hope Floats, “It’s the worst kind of extravagance the way you spend your chances”. What if this applies to the whole world now? We need to stop spending our chances.

We need to stop settling. Stop lowering our expectations. Go out there, spend your chances wisely. We may live in a world supercharged by social media, where we dramatize each problem, instead of looking for solutions. Where gossip, blame, fighting, arguing, cool cynicism, magical thinking, phony outrage, lowest common denominator pandering, digital degrees of The Butter Battle Book, The Lorax, and The Cat in the Hat combined (Dr. Seuss would be so proud) rule the day. Where intelligence is mocked, sensationalism screams loudest, bits and soundbites of information, right or wrong, reign supreme. In fact, it would be really funny, if it wasn’t such a sad mess…

It doesn’t mean we have to buy into it. We can be more. Rise above. Care. Have character, loyalty, integrity, even if it’s not cool to do so. Choose courage. Choose love. Choose hope. Caveat emptor, lest we drown in the muck. You’ll find true power in being kind.

I write this with tears in my eyes and the words to Green Day’s Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) playing over and over in my head: “It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right. I hope you had the time of your life.” I do, I hope you had the time of your life, I certainly did.

I can’t thank those of you who have supported me enough! Thanks for following, sharing, reblogging, commenting, visiting. I’m not ruling out coming back at some point, I’m just not well enough to continue now.

I’ll still visit my blogging family and friends regularly. Still take part in some parties, social media stuff, etc. Blogging is addictive. When you first do it, you feel like you’re standing naked (sorry for the visual), exposed, and then you start to love it. You have to silence your inner critic (she’s just jealous).

My posts stay here, so please, visit my vaults whenever you’d like, comment, share, I’ll still be here, after all, almost 3 years of blogging later there’s close to 600 posts, like these:

I’m not ruling out returning to this blog or another blog, or bookstores near you (she wrote wistfully). Some time away might recharge my batteries and I will regenerate (I could be the new Doctor in Doctor Who, I think it’s time for a female Doctor). Until then, so long and thanks for all the fish…come on, you think I’d leave without something to do with Douglas Adams, he’s at least partially responsible for my brain. I might be down now, but there’s no time limit on getting back up. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, I’ll get up, dust off, and be back, one way or another!

I agree JAck and Donna here has kept us in sticthes, somehow you cant pour from an empty cup so Dont be too long Donna! Look after ya self gal, and You will find a load of Chocolate waiting when you Get back. Travel the world, see some new shores if you can…wrote on a secluded beach..heck up a tree house…get better! Ciao The Pit Stop wont be the same without you!

Thank you so much, Julie, for these inspiring words and for all the support. 🙂
I’ll still visit and remind others to visit your amazing Blogger’s Pit Stop. 🙂
Hope this weekend is treating you well. 🙂 Best wishes. 🙂

Like the White Rabbit, I’m late, I’m late, to commenting on this post. I just wanted to say I’ll miss reading your posts, but look forward to reading your book (one day). And I hope your health improves too, I really do. Sending love, cats and maple syrup your way – hope to see you around in blogland, you’re always welcome for a visit. And I’ll leave you with another Douglas Adams quote (he really is the best, isn’t he?):
‘I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.’
Wishing you all the very best xx

Never too late, Helen, I’m playing catch up myself. There’s been such a lovely, heart-warming outpouring of kindness, understanding and bloglove, I’m overwhelmed, but in a good way. 🙂
Thank you so much for your delightful wishes – if love, cats, and maple syrup don’t help then not much will. 🙂
I love that Douglas Adams quote and that’s how I feel (most of the time), we may not know where the journey is taking us, but we should enjoy the trip.
Hope this week is treating you kindly and all the best, always. 🙂

All the very best, Donna – and good luck giving up the ‘dirty habit’ as I definitely can’t. lol. Funny you should mention the comparison with the Roman Empire. I was just saying to my husband last week that society today is going the way of the Roman Empire – fragmented and so corrupt with a me-first and every-man/woman-for-him/her-self attitude.

Thank you so much, Jean. 🙂
Exactly, it’s like people are rushing around, not noticing what’s happening. Coincidentally a lot of their issues can from contamination, of their politics, their food, their water, etc. We are stronger and better together.
Hope this week treats you chocolately. 🙂

I’m sad and excited for you. The sad is pure selfishness, because I so enjoy your writing. The excitement is the thought of the new chapter you’re starting – all that great reading and your book writing. Plus, there’s the excitement of getting well, which I hope happens very soon.

Thank you for the gifts you’ve given us: your humour, your insight, your wisdom, your time. These are precious gems.

Janice, thank you all all the lovely ladies, Kathleen, Julie, and Debbie for featuring my post in this delightful party and of course, for the awesome opportunity to enjoy all the bloggers found here. 🙂
Hope you’re having a wonderful time. 🙂

Yes, it’s taken me a long time to get through all the wonderful and caring comments, I keep getting all misty-eyed, but in a good way. Thank you, I’ll do my best, with the help of chocolate, of course. Hope this weekend treats you kindly. 🙂

Sorry to see you go, but totally understand. Take care of you, stay connected and I will be looking out for your book 😉 Thanks for the blogging bright spot you opened in my virtual world. I wish you all the best.

Aww, shucks, thanks, you’re way too kind, but if I could brighten anyone’s world even just a little, it was all worthwhile, we need more brightness, less dark in the world today. All the best to you. 🙂

Thank you doesn’t quite cover it, but thank you, Rob, you’re too kind, but please, go on… lol 😉
I hope it’s more like adieu, but one never knows what the future brings. 🙂
Thank you so much for the amazing reblog, for all the support, and your generous comments. I’ll still be around, just not blogging (at this time). 🙂
Hope this weekend treats you well. 🙂

Wow, what a post (among the 600 or so; my goodness, what productivity!)! I’m wishing you every success in kicking the arse of your newly arisen or diagnosed health problem, Donna. My addiction is also chocolate. I never knew that, as a parent, I would start hiding chocolate, but, yep, I’m that mom. Me aside, I have really enjoyed your blog and meeting you through the blog, as it were. I never left any post I’ve ever read by you feeling hopeless or depressed (even when you write about brexit or Trump or fibromyalgia or a million other things that are stupid and depressing), because your voice and personality always shone through the words. That’s the mark of a genuine writer, I think. My 2 cents’. Stay well and visit whenever you can, Donna—I can’t wait to read your book[s] (hint, hint)!

Thank you kindly, Leigh, I’m going to do my best. 🙂 Wishing you everything that is wonderful, you’re so thoughtful.
As for the chocolate, yes, sometimes I feel like a junkie, jonesing for my next fix! I console myself that I could have worse habits, right? 😉
I’m so glad to hear that, it makes me happy to think I can make others happy. 🙂
I’m working on it, well, not this second technically, but I am writing every day, but my main character is being difficult. 🙂
Thank you for all the support, I’ll be around. Hope this week ahead treats you well. 🙂

Thank you so much, Debbie. You and Kathleen, Janice, and Julie do such a wonderful job on this every week, you’re always so kind, generous, and supportive of bloggers. It’s a virtual goldmine for bloggers! 🙂
Hope this week treats you well. 🙂

Hi Donna,
You’re killing me here. I may have read this already but I didn’t realize it was your last post. I’m on a cruise ship paying for the Internet (home this Thursday), so I keep rushing to extend my minutes as much as I can.
I love you. I don’t want you to go. You implied to me you were thinking of this, so it shouldn’t be a shock. You are so talented, so good-hearted, so funny… the blogging community will feel the void.
I hope you’ll still come around to say hi. I know you will. I’ll hold good thoughts about your health. Feel better. Good luck with your book.
I consider you a good blogging friend.
Janice

Janice, you’ve been such a wonderful blogging friend and resource, always amazingly generous to bloggers. I’m going with Dr. Seuss on this one: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” 🙂
I hope you’re having a lovely time on your cruise. 🙂
Yes, I’ll still be around, I love you all, it’s just as much for me that I’ll stay around, I’d miss you all too much!!! 🙂
Thank you for everything, dear Janice, hope you’re having a fantastic trip and enjoy returning home too!!! 🙂
All the best, always. xoxox

What?!!? Noooooo! The internet won’t be the same. Where will I get my snarky pop culture references fix? It’s ok. I know what you mean. Sometimes our brain and our heart need a change to recharge. You’re a writer, so you’ll write. Sometimes we’ll get to see it and sometimes we won’t . You need to write for you when and how you want. Thank you for all your visits and support of my blog. I’m looking forward to whatever you do in the future. Be well

Phil, you’re right, I’m writing, in my own way right now (enough rights/writes in there?). Hope everything is going well with you. And I’ll still be around, visiting all of you, in between getting my characters to cooperate. 😉
Hope this weekend treats you kindly and thanks for everything, who knows what the future brings? 🙂

I want to be selfish but you taking care of yourself means more to me than getting my way. Although I didn’t comment much but when I did vist there was something I got from all your posts that made my day.
The best way to let you know how I’m feeling is just think about the last show of Breaking Bad. I was in denial so I started from season 1 and that’s what I will do with you blog. Read them all.
Take care,
Vernon

OMG!!! I wondered what happened to you! I’ve been thinking of doing the same thing.
You’re giving me courage! (But I will still miss you; good thing you have so many posts I can dig into) xoxooxoxoxo One of your biggest fans, lutheranliar

I’ve basically been on a break ever since I moved in March. I am definitely not writing as much as I did before.Just like you, I’m tired and…it’s true….enough stress will begin to give a person all kinds of health problems. I agree with you on many things, but I must say that there are situations where kindness does not work.
Once upon a time, I was in a very abusive relationship. Any sign of kindness was immediately perceived as weakness, which precipitated more verbal attacks.. To him, kindness in response to abuse meant that I was an idiot, a joke, a fool, and a loser who deserved to be beaten down because I didn’t care enough about myself to fight back. Eventually, I did stand up and walk away from the whole thing.. Unfortunately, by the time I left, I had been doused with so much negativity….I still struggle with it (PTSD).
I wish you peace! Hope to see your book soon…..

Not only is important to take breaks when we need them, but to know when we need to take those breaks.
I understand, Mary, I really do, but kindness is never weakness and your strength by walking away is evidence of your strength.
I wish you peace as well, thank you for dropping by, I really hope this week treats you kindly. 🙂

Awwwwww…I don’t want to see you go, but I understand the need to focus on writing a book, and de-stressing after all of the political nonsense is definitely a necessity. I hope you keep lurking around and reading, though – and hope you write a post here and there to let us know how you’re doing!
🙂

Sorry to hear you’ve decided to quit (for now) with the blogging. Sometimes a good break is needed, to regroup and figure out where you want to go with this. Best of luck whatever you decide 🙂
#weekendblogshare

Thank you so much, Julie, it’s important to know when we need a break. 🙂
All the best to you as well, hope you can visit my archives. 😉
I’ll be around, still visiting blogs, reviewing books, social media stuff, etc.
I love #weekendblogshare too, Hannah is awesome! 🙂
Hope this week treats you kindly. 🙂

Oh …bI kept reading this and wondering and then it hit me – your leaving blogging behind for now. I truly understand your need to do this, and wish you all the best. I’ll miss your posts but as you say there are plenty to catch up on especially as you’ve been a very active blogger. Keep well, keep in touch.

Oh Danny, you’re too kind and making me cry all over again!
Thank you so much, not just for these lovely words and wishes, but for all the support you’ve given me and my blog, you should be listed as a blog guru!!! 😉
I hope to see me back at some point too, I’m making some changes that hopefully might help. Adieu and as always, best wishes and thank you, dear friend. Big hugs xox

Why did my mind jump to, “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”~Groucho Marx? Yup, been that kind of day.😉
Thanks for including me, Sandra, so kind of you, not surprising, you’re always so supportive and generous to bloggers, a lovely blogging friend, for all seasons.:) Shared and loved. 🙂
Hope this weekend treats you well. 🙂

Sorry to see you go. I almost re-installed my emails for you because I rarely see you on the reader. I guess I shouldn’t now. I wish you luck in your other endeavors or break of whatever you decide. Thanks for your blog. It was great!

Thank you so much, Josh, I hope you’re feeling well. I’ll be sticking around, I’d miss all of you in my blogging family too much to leave. 🙂
Hope this week treats you kindly and feel free to wander around my archives if you feel nostalgic. 😉

If I ever get more than 3 free seconds. All my usual people I read must be wondering what the heck happened. Of course, I am just imagining that because they likely don’t care and are focused on more important things, but it’s nice to pretend to be important. LOL.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re suffering at the moment and unable to blog on here. I’ve enjoyed your posts and am grateful to you for following me and reading my posts.
I hope that at some point you do post again.
I have also been hit and miss with my blogs, just lately. My GP suspects I have Sjogren’s …so I have being referred to our local hospital…in December!. Until then, I will continue to zombie my way through my days and just try to keep going, and blogging when I can. Some days are better than others…hey?
Keep in touch and don’t worry we’ll still be here.
I will check out your archives.
Oh, and I hope Daryl survives. Such a shame Neagan is so good looking hey? And I love Preacher .
Take care and I hope you feel more like yourself soon. x

Thank you, the break is doing wonders for me. I’m still around, enjoying posts, sharing, commenting, etc. 🙂
I’m sorry to hear that, I hope the docs can find the culprit and hopefully give you some help – being a zombie isn’t nearly as much fun as it looks on The Walking Dead, then again, some of them look pret-ty bad. 😉 I hope you have more good days than not. 🙂
I hope so, they’re hinting he won’t, but the more they hint, the more I suspect he’ll be fine. It’s cruel joke having Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan, like having David Morrissey as The Governor. ‘Preacher’ is certainly a wild ride, now more than ever.
Thank you kindly, best wishes. Big hugs xo

You are very clever and an exceptional writer. Thank you for the all laughs and the lessons. I miss your Yadada Yarn when I don’t read it, and now ,,,,,ok I know you will come back. 🙂 I feel it. I have not been writing/blogging in a while, and I do understand. A break is important. I hope you have a wonderful break. Big Hugs.

Excellent compilation of blogging advice and myth-busting, Janice (lol including mine). I’ve been taking my own advice and writing, a lot of writing, not just blog posts although I found myself working on one of those too, although no idea when or if I’ll post it. 😉
Thanks for everything, for the shout-out, for all the support, and for all the wonderful work you and the other ladies of the #BloggersPitStop do for bloggers.
Hope this weekend treats you kindly – I can’t wait for the next #BloggersPitStop 🙂
Best wishes to all!

Thank you kindly, my friend, I’m feeling somewhat better, certainly relaxed (mostly). 🙂
I hope this week is treating you well so far – I’m guessing this is a busy week for you as people try to cram in last minute fun and traveling before heading back to school. 🙂

Dear Sally, you are so kind. Thank you for the mention and to be in such amazing company! Loved this post, it lead me to the sites of blogging friends and soon-to-be blogging friends (I hope).
Thank you for everything and hope this week is treating you well.
Best wishes,
Donna xox

I had no idea you were taking a break from blogging, Donna. I put it down to having taken one myself recently so that I could get on with getting that book published. I’ve taken many a blogging break (some only lasted a few days), but I benefited from them all. I’ve also seen more and more bloggers taking them.
May I wish you all the best while you’re away from blogging. I do hope we see you back here publishing more posts one day.
My best wishes to you,
Hugh

P.S – I still remember that one and only blog hop party I did and how you were also holding one the same weekend. It was great to see so many bloggers crossing over between our two parties.

I hope everything is going well for you, Hugh. I’m enjoying my break, but I keep thinking of things I want to write about so the lure is there.
Best wishes to you as well, yes, I really enjoyed those parties, they were fun.
Hope this weekend treats you well. 🙂

I know that ‘lure’ feeling very well, Donna. Blogging is a hard subject to try and stay away from while taking a break. I had to use a lot of willpower, which I now need to replace for when I take my next blogging break.
Have a lovely weekend.

Janice, this post really made me think (and I’m sharing so others can read it as well). I admit, I don’t think about bounce rates, etc., but maybe I should be thinking about it.
Thanks for the advice and for featuring my words in your post.
Hope this week is treating you kindly. 🙂

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